247Sports’ Josh Pate sends Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M a message ahead of the 2023 season
Talking season in its fullest form is upon us, and as Texas A&M prepares for their Maroon and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 15, the 2023 season is getting closer and closer, and 247Sports’ Josh Pate is throwing out haymakers through the airwaves in his usual entertaining fashion.
His target this week? Texas A&M of course! One of the hottest topics in the college football landscape this offseason has continued to be head coach Jimbo Fisher’s immense struggles during the Aggies’ 5-7 2022 season, resulting in their first losing record in 14 seasons.
With one of the more talented rosters in the country including numerous returning veterans, Fisher rolled the dice and took a chance on “offensive genius”, and former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino, whose recent stint with FCS Missouri State led him back to the Power 5 as Texas A&M’s newly minted offensive coordinator. On the surface, a turnaround of some magnitude is imminent, but as we see every season, nothing is guaranteed in the SEC.
So, what did Josh Pate have to say on the matter of next season’s potential results?
“What they failed to do last year is make a bowl game and that’s inexcusable at a place like Texas A&M,” Pate stated. “It’s inexcusable, I don’t even think they would argue that. So let’s just say for argument’s sake, let’s get sadistic for a second. It’s not a prediction, it’s a hypothetical … Let’s say the sadistic side of us hits the simulation button and that’s exactly what happens. We got Texas A&M sitting at home in December, failed to make a bowl game. To be very clear, if that were to happen, massive changes would come about in College Station. I don’t see any way around that.
While many skeptics believe that the only reason Jimbo Fisher is still around is due to his massive buyout, Pate is correct to point out that results on the field will ultimately mold a decision if the results don’t drastically improve next season.
“You can toss buyouts at me all you want to. I have thought that through. I have talked to enough people with guided knowledge at the forefront of Texas A&M athletics that I believe regardless of how big that (buyout) is, there would be movement because you can’t afford not to.”
Lastly, Pate described why Jimbo Fisher’s 39-21 record with the program reflects his lack of “thumbprint” on the program that he seemingly implemented during his time at Florida State.
“Its one thing if Jimbo Fisher was a young head coach or Jimbo Fisher is new to the program, neither of those things is the case. He’s been there long enough for every aspect of that program to reflect his thumbprint. I always think in terms of thumbprint. There was nothing about Texas A&M football up to this point that should not reflect Jimbo Fisher. So then, here’s the follow-up. Here’s where it gets really interesting and here’s where the weeds start to grow around you pretty quick. If you didn’t know any better, which doesn’t mean your ignorant, it just means you got a life and you can’t follow A&M football athletics day to day, if you didn’t know any better you’d probably find yourself saying ‘why is this so hard?’ Jimbo hires a seasoned, experienced, been-around-the-block play-caller in his new offensive coordinator and he hands over the reins to him. Why doesn’t Jimbo Fisher just go act as a CEO? I’ll tell you why– Jimbo Fisher is not good as a CEO-type.”
Look, Fisher has yet to take on the CEO-like role with the Aggies since arriving in 2019, so to unfairly judge how he’ll approach his coaching role this season with Petrino by his side along with a highly competent assistant coaching staff is arbitrary, to say the least. Like we’ll do here at Aggies Wire every week during the 2023 campaign, judge the results, and with all due respects, leave the talking heads to, well, talk. And check out Josh Pate on Late Kick with Josh Pate on Youtube and wherever you get your podcasts.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty
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